Some back story, we have a 1 year old Labradoodle named Kash.
We've been battling allergies since he was a wee pup and have tried just about everything. Just to name a few, Purina HA food, alternative protein sources, cortisone shots, prednisone, booties, the cone, hair cuts, medicated baths, raw food diets, etc. We have spent ALOT of energies and resources into trying to make our puppy a happy and unbothered fellow. Nothing has worked.
His birthday was May 9th and we were told to wait til he was one before we started allergy testing... So we did that today. Bit of an enlightening appointment.
His skin test results:
The scale for the severity of allergic reaction is from 0 - 4. 0 being the weakest, 4 being the worst. So apparently, Kash is allergic to effin everything. According to the pollination schedule, November is the only month Kash is gonna be a happy, itch free doggy.
We're still unsure whether the allergies we're dealing with are also influenced by the food we feed him. We've been on a strict Rabbit and Potato diet for a loooong time and he never got any better, which, we're sure is from the airborn allergies.
I write this for a few reasons though... I want to update our friends out there as to how Kash is doing. I also want to send out a word of warning. If you decide to get a "designer" doggy, be sure you're prepared for the possibility of your best friend being high maintenance with some pretty extreme routine costs. Kash is the best buddy we could have ever hoped for and will always continue to throw every resource we have to get him to a happy place but some people dont feel the same way or dont have the resources available to take on the responsibility. Having said that, Im told from the owners of the rest of the litter that their buddies dont have any problems like we're experiencing so maybe it's just cuz Kash experiencing this, doesnt mean all Labradoodles will. I just want to plant a seed and a cautionary tail. Ask your breeder or whomever you receive your buddy from.
If we had known Kash was gonna have these allergies before we brought him home, we would most definitely do it all over. He is just simply the funniest, most lovable, compassionate, smart ass I have ever met. So please dont take the above as "Dont get a Labradoodle" but I just want to forewarn those unaware of the possibilities in owning so called "designer dogs," ie. Labradoodles, GoldenDoodles, Schnoodles, and thousands more. The cross breeding can sometimes result in adverse, unintended effects which can be emotionally draining for both you and your best friend.
At any rate, we're starting the allergy shots next week to desensitize him from his allergies in the hopes that his immune system will grow a resistance. I'll keep our progress updated here for those curious and for the internets.
*UPDATE*
I wrote the other parents and got a response back with a confirmation that their doggies (2 of Kash's siblings) have also been experiencing the allergies too... so now we at least know its not just Kash.
